Posted on: 25 June 2021
On Tuesday Talking Therapies Staff from across the Trust came together to take part in the annual Talking Therapies (IAPT) conference.
This year’s conference had a focus on how teams can look after one another and themselves in order to be even more present and attentive towards patients.
Ade Odunlade, Divisional Director for Jameson talked about Jameson’s mantra ‘Ambition for excellence’ and compassionate teamwork. Ade said, “Having that as a goal is really important. The teams present today are leading London and it’s really important to celebrate your work. Not just the Team leaders but each individual clinician; the unsung heroes, admin, cleaners, security – each of them needs to be acknowledged, supported and celebrated as what we have achieved has been done together. “
Compassionately working with communities in the areas CNWL provides healthcare in leads to a better understanding of the cultural needs. Treatment can then be moulded in a way that supports everyone in the community and people from different backgrounds can feel they can rely and trust CNWL services to help them.
Fatima Elguenuni from the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service discussed how the service found five key points that would help them become a culturally aware and supportive service; recognising the importance of constantly listening and evolving the service with the changing needs of the community.
During the presentation Sepideh Mhojat, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, said, “We can only meet the needs of our community if we know what their needs are, rather than assuming, and involve them in shaping and forming the services we are offering them.”
Gelong Thubten, a Buddhist monk and meditation teacher talked to staff about how practicing mindfulness can be a compassionate act towards their own wellbeing. Gelong talked about empathy and kindness being learned traits and can be further expanded.
Gelong said “If we take a moment to be compassionate to ourselves we can increase our capacity for compassion towards others even more.”
All 250 attendees of the conference took part in a 10 minute mindfulness session. Proving just 10 minutes a day can make a difference. The session provided a moment of calmness which trained the mind and reminded that you are the one in control.
CNWL’s Chief Executive Claire Murdoch spoke at the conference to answer questions from staff and compassionately say how thankful she is to the Talking Therapies Team for all their hard work.
Claire said, “From the families you haven’t seen to the home schooling and I don’t need to carry on listing all the things you have lived and breathed this past year with the rest of society. The pandemic happened to us all and from the bottom of my heart I want to say how proud I am and grateful I am, how thankful I am for what you, as our therapists managed to do during that period and are still doing now.”
A question Claire answered was how the Talking Therapies team and CNWL as a whole can better serve the communities they work in, she said, “As ever we need to extend ourselves into the equalities space and I know it’s something we think about a lot. We think really hard about the areas we provide therapies in and how we can ensure reach in Black and Ethnic Minorities. The pandemic has laid bare the race and ethnic inequalities but also the social and economic inequalities; I think making sure we are cited on class as well. It’s knowing your communities and pivoting your therapies.”
Claire also spoke about recruitment, looking into providing apprenticeships to people who have not been to university but would make great compassionate therapists.